CVS starts in-store donations to combat lung cancer

WOONSOCKET, R.I. – CVS/pharmacy has commenced an in-store fundraising campaign to help fight lung cancer as part of Lung Force, a women's health initiative of the American Lung Association.

CVS said Monday that through June 29, its customers can contribute to Lung Force at checkout in its more than 7,600 stores nationwide as well as online at CVS.com/lung. All proceeds go toward support of Lung Force.

Also in support of the program, CVS Caremark employees will participate in local Lung Force events across the country.

With lung cancer the leading cancer killer of women, the American Lung Association created Lung Force to make the disease a public health priority, drive policy change and boost research funding. CVS Caremark is the national presenting sponsor of Lung Force, which was announced last month.

"Through the Lung Force movement and support from CVS/pharmacy, its colleagues and its customers, we will increase awareness and education of lung cancer in women and make it a public health priority," Harold Wimmer, national president and chief executive officer of the American Lung Association, said in a statement. "Through the funds raised during the in-store campaign at CVS/pharmacy, we'll be able to change our thinking about this disease and raise critical funds for lung cancer research."

"When our company announced in February that we would stop the sale of tobacco products at our 7,600 CVS/pharmacy locations, we also made a commitment to align ourselves with community partners on programs that are helping people lead tobacco-free lives," stated Helena Foulkes, president of CVS/pharmacy. "The American Lung Association shares in our purpose of helping people on their path to better health, and through our partnership and in-store fundraising campaign supporting Lung Force, we will be able to make a significant impact in educating our customers about the prevalence of lung cancer in women."

In an interview last month at the national launch event for Lung Force, Foulkes said CVS is currently developing a major smoking cessation program. She described the move as "a natural extension" for CVS as it exits the tobacco business.

CVS has continued to earn kudos for its plan to remove tobacco products from its stores. Last week, for example, the Prevent Cancer Foundation honored CVS Caremark with the 2014 James L. Mulshine National Leadership Award for its decision to discontinue tobacco sales. The award was accepted by Nancy Gagliano, chief medical officer of CVS' MinuteClinic, at the foundation's annual Lung Cancer Workshop in New York City.